Cantilever stile



Nov. 29, 1960 H. F. RAMSBERGER E'I'AL CANTILEVER STILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 22, 1958 INVENTORS.

HARRY F RAMSBERGER WILL/AM D. RAMSBERGER MZZJM awe/z. 4M

ATTORNEY! Nov. 29, 1960 7H. F. RAMSBERGER E'IAL ,9

\ "f C ANTILEVERSTILE Filed Dec. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i J 5 0INVENTORS. 66 HARRY F RAMSBEPGER W/LL/AM D PAMSBEPGER M 4M A TTOR NE Y7United States Patent P 2, 2,11 CANT ILE'V'ER' STILE Harry F. Ramsberger,17 Farragut Road, Plainfield; NJ., and William D'. Ramsberger, 424; 1stSt., Duuellen Jt Filed Dec- 2 1958,.Sen. No. 782,123 Claims. (Cl.Ina-.118).

This invention relates to a new and) improved stile and, particularly,to a cantilever stile for use in entering and leaving, plastic swimming12 .018. of he yp h rein. the wall. thereof projects upwardly from, abottom portion resting on the ground.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a newandimproved cantilever stile for use with plastic swimming pools.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device whereinone of the ladder structures of the stile, is positioned above thebottom portion of the pool to substantially eliminate puncturing of thebottom of the pool through use of the stile.

A further object is to provide such a device that is light in weight,sturdy in construction, and relatively in expensive to construct. v

A further object is to provide such a device that is portable in natureand may be removed to. prevent uninvited admittance to the pool by youngchildren.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areprovided by a cantilevered stile comprising a pair of vertically spacedA-frames, plural horizontal tread members supported between opposed legmembers of said A-frames to provide a pair of ladder structures, anchormeans at the lower end of one of said ladder structures to maintain thelower end of the other of said ladder structures in cantileveredsuspension.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to theillustrative embodiments thereof wherem:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form of the cantilevered stile ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevational view in section of the cantileveredstile shown in Fig. l positioned in operative relationship to a plasticswimming pool;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of anchor means for thestile of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a further form of anchor means for thestile;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of still a further form of anchormeans; and

Fig. 6 is a section substantially on line 66 of Fig. 5.

. Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to Figs.

1 and 2, the improved cantilever stile generally comprises a pair ofA-frames ltl and 12. The A-frame 10 includes a pair of stringer members14 and 16 interconnected at their upper ends by a spacer member 18 whileA-frame member 12 includes an identical pair of stringer members 14 and16' interconnected adjacent their upper ends by a spacer member 18'.

i The pair of stringer members 14 and 14' have secured thereto aplurality of horizontal tread portions designated 20 while the stringermembers 16 and 16 have secured therebetween a plurality of tread members22.

Positioned between the upper spacer members 18 and 18 is a platformgenerally designated 24 which may comprise a plurality of spaced planks26 which form the platform between the ladderstructures 28 and 30, andas a safety feature, paired handrail members 32 and 34 may be providedto project upwardly from the platform. The handrails areiconuected byscrew or bolt means to'the 2,962,112 Patented, Nov. 29, 1 960,

extended ends of the spacer members 18111116 18' as more clearly shownin Figs. 1 and 2 OfthedraWings.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be. seen thatthe stringermembers 16 and 16" are of a lesser length than stringer members 14- and14' whereby the ladder structure 30' formed bythe stringer members 16and 16' and the horizontal tread members 22 is maintained in suspensionabove the ground level. Inorderto provide a stable stile and topreve-ntthe stile from sinking into the ground, a baseboard 36 is-secured to the lower ends of stringer members: 14 and 14" and anchormeans are provided for the ladder structure 28. The anchor meansforthecanti'levered stile shown in Figs. 1 and 2 gen erally comprises apair of anchorstakes 38 and 38" having sharpened or wedge-shaped lowerends. The anchorstakes 38 and 38 are driven into the ground or wheredesired placed in eoncrete'or the like so that; the upper face 40 of theane-hor stakes are substantially at ground level. Into each of the upperfaces 40 f the anchor stakes 38 and 38 is secured an eye-bolt or screwCooperating anchor hooks 44 are secured to the stringer members 14 and14- by screw eyes 46 so positioned that the hook portion of the anchorhooks engage the eyes 42 received in the upper ends of the anchor stakes38 and 38 to releasably secure the ladder structure 28- into snugengagement with the ground.

ice

In order to take the reactions of he load on the cantie levered stile,vertical posts 48 and 48" may extend from the ground to the apex of theladder structures. The posts 48 and; 48'" are secured to theirrespective space; members 18 and 18;""at the upper end of the stile andwhere desired, the lower ends of the post members lil' and 48" may alsobe provided with a base portions!) and diagonal sway braces 52 and 5.4.Horizontal'brace meme; bers 56 and 58, extending between the posts 48and 48 and stringers 14 and 14', respectively, may also be added to thestructure.

The cantilevered stile of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2in combination with a plastic swimming pool designated 60 having abottom portion 62, a side wall 64 and support means 66 for the sidewall. With a swimming pool having a side wall projecting about 30 or 36inches above the ground, a cantilevered stile having the followingdimensions has been found tq be very satisg factory:

Height of stile 3' 6'" Another form of anchor means for the,cantilevered stile of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3,a pair of footings 80, one for: each of the A-frames 10 and 12, ispositioned under the bottom portion 62 of the pool and so positionedthat a portion of the footings pro? ject outwardly of the wall 64 of thepool 6.0. The pro-. jecting portions 82 of the footings 8.0 are belowground level (indicated at 84) and have secured thereabout metal sleeves86. The post portions. 48, and .48 and their corresponding stringermembers 14, and 14 are intercom nected by further footing members 88with the footing members 88 projecting beyond the post members 4.8. and48 toward the wall 64 of the, pool. The projecting po t 0 of ch o the otn s 8.8. are received in the metal sleeves 86 of their respectivepermanent? fggting members anchored under the pqolbottorn 62 A pair?- ofthumb pins 92 are received in bores in the sleeves 8 ing members 80 and88 to releasably secure the footing members 80 and 88 within the sleeves86. With this form of construction by removing the four thumb pins 92,the footings 88 maybe withdrawnjfrom the sleeves, 86 and thecantileveredstilel moved to a position remote from the swimming pool toprevent access to the water in the pool by small children.

Referring to. Fig. 4, a further form of anchor meansfor the cantileveredstile is shown. In Fig. 4, a pair of stakes 100 is anchored in theground and each of the anchor stakes 100 hassecured to the top thereof across arm 102by, for example, screw means 104. The cross arms 102 eachare provided with a projecting boss portion 106 which boss portion ispositioned above the ground a distance equal to the thickness of thefooting blocks 36 secured to the lower ends of the stringer members 14and 14 forming the ladder structure 28. In this form of the invention,the projecting portions of the footing member 36 are slid under theprojecting portion of the anchor blocks or cross arms 102 whereby thestile is effectively and releasably anchored to the ground external ofthe wall portion 64 of the swimming pool.

A further form of anchor means is illustrated in Figs. and 6 wherein thefooting 36' secured to the stringer members 14 and 14' of the ladderstructure 28 is provided with a pair of openings 107. Positionedvertically below the openings 107 in the footing member 36' is an anchorstake 108. Each of the anchor stakes 108 has secured therein an eyescrew generally designated 110 with the eye portion thereof projectingabove the opening 107 in the footing member 362. To install thecantilevered stile provided with the anchor means shown in Figs. 5 and6, the stile is positioned above the anchor stakes 108 with the eyescrews 110 projecting through the openings 107 in the footing member36'. With the stile thus positioned, pin means 112 is slipped througheach of the eyes of the eye screws 110 securely and releasably anchoringthe ladder structure 28 to the ground. Each of the pins 112 may beprovided with chain means 114 secured as at 116 to the footing member36' to prevent loss thereof when the novel cantilevered stile is not 11]use.

The cantilevered stile of the present invention may be constructed ofconventional construction materials, such as wood, metal; or plastic orcombinations of metal, plastic or wood as desired. It will be furtherappreciated that constructional details of the cantilevered stile willbe varied, depending upon the particular construction material and itwill be appreciated that where the cantilevered stile is to be used witha portable plastic swimming pool, it would be desirable to releasablysecure the tread portions 20 and 22' to their respective stringers 14,14', 16 and 16; the base parts 50 and 36 to said stringers; the platform26 to spacers 18 and 18' along with the horizontal braces 52 and 54 andthe diagonal sway braces 52-52.

The foregoing would leave the two A frames assembled to their respectivestringers, 14-14' 16-16, spacers 18, 18' horizontal brace members 56, 58diagonal sway braces 52--54 handrails 32-34, and posts 4848'. This wouldprovide a minimum bulk of ladder parts for packaging in a carton or tiedbundle by the manufacturers for wholesalers, retailers and ultimateconsumers or users storage and provide a knocked-down stile that can beeasily assembled by the user by graphic and written instructions and ifnecessary partially dismantled by the user for storage during thenon-swimming season.

Having described our invention in its preferred and modified forms, whatis claimed is:

l. A cantilevered stile comprising a pair of laterally spaced A-frames,plural horizontal tread members supported between opposed leg members ofsaid A-frame to provide a pair of ladder structures, ground-engaginganchor means at the lower end of one of said ladder structures tomaintain the lower end of the other of the ladder structures incantilevered suspension and groundengaging post means extendinggenerally vertically from the ground to the apex of the ladderstructures, said anchor means including anchor stakes secured in theground and releasable hook means connecting said one of said ladderstructures to said anchor stakes.

2. A cantilevered stile comprising a pair of laterally spaced A-frames,plural horizontal .tread members sup ported between opposed leg membersof said A-frame to provide a pair of ladder structures, ground-engaginganchor means at the lower end of one of said ladder structures tomaintain the lower end of the other of the ladder structures incantilevered suspension, said anchor means including footing meanssecured to said one of said ladder structures and said ground-engagingpost means, said footing membershaving overlapping members engagingcooperative footing means positioned beneath the bottom of a pool andsleeve means encircling the overlapped portions of said cooperatingfooting means. p

3. A cantilevered stile comprising a pair of laterally spaced A-frames,plural horizontal tread members supported between opposed leg members ofsaid A-frame to provide a pair of ladder structures, ground-engaginganchor means at the lower end of one of said ladder;

structures to maintain the lower end of the other of the ladderstructures in cantilevered suspension and groundengaging post meansextending generally vertically from anchor stake means.

4. A cantilevered stile comprising a pair of laterally spaced A-frames,plural horizontal tread members supported between opposed leg members ofsaid A-frame to provide a pair of ladder structures, ground-engaginganchor means at the lower end of one of said ladder structures tomaintain the lower end of the other of the ladder structures incantilevered suspension and groundengaging post means extendinggenerally vertically from the ground to the apex of the ladderstructures, said anchor means including a pair of anchor stakes securedin the ground, eye pins projecting upwardly from each of the anchorstakes, a footing member secured to the. lower end of said one of saidladder structures, said footing member having openings therethrough toreceive the eye portions of said eye pins, and releasable keeper meansadapted to be received in the eye portions of said eye pins.

5. A stile for a plastic swimming pool having a bottom portion and aside wall projecting upwardly from the bottom portion comprising a pairof laterally spaced A-frames, plural horizontal tread members supportedbetween opposed leg members of said A-frames to provide a pair of ladderstructures, one of said pair of ladder structures positioned outside ofthe pool wall and in contact with the ground, the other of said ladderstructures positioned on the inside of the pool wall and terminatingadjacent the bottom of the pool, ground-engaging anchor means at thelower end of said one of said ladder structures to maintain the lowerend of the other of said lad-" der structures in cantilevered suspensionabove the pool bottom, and ground-engaging post means extendinggenerally vertically from the ground to the apex of the ladderstructure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS776,446 Williamson Nov. 29, 1904 1,323,227 Kirby Nov. 25, 1919 1,676,618Morris July 10, 192.8- 1,s10,045 Heiniger June 16, 1931 2,371,092Williams Mar. 6, 1945

